Health Benefits of Okra (Lady’s Finger)

Being in a state of constant good health is now the priority of almost everyone and obviously, you too are no exception that. And, among the steps that you take to safeguard your physical well-being, consuming the right foods is the most important one. Okra well known as lady’s finger is one of such food. There are too many proven health benefits of okra.

Here, in this article, you will gain thorough information on the health benefits of okra and the way the vegetable will help to treat/prevent many ailments.

The Nutrients Present in Okra

What are the nutrients that are there in okra? Definitely, that must be the question that you are having right now. This section of the article will answer this very question so that you can fully appreciate the health-related positives of the wonder vegetable.

Vitamins: Okra has abundant quantities of the vitamins A, C, and K, all of which are essential for good health. In fact, the vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, too. The vegetable also has several B-complex vitamins including thiamin, pyridoxine, and pantothenic acid.

Dietary fiber: You find plenty of dietary fiber in okra, which improves the working of the gastrointestinal tract and stimulates the growth of good bacteria.

Mucilage substance: Okra consists of a mucilage substance that keeps the large intestine consistently lubricated.

Flavonoids: The vegetable comes loaded with flavonoids such as xanthin, beta-carotene, and lutein, which have strong antioxidant properties.

Minerals: There are many vital minerals in okra like calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese, etc. It is a universally-known fact that these minerals are crucial to several key bodily functions.

Calorie Count and Fat Content of Okra

If you are a person who prefers to consume only low-fat foods having fewer calories, then okra must be a part of your staple diet! The following points will provide more clarity on that.

When you take into account 100 g of okra, the total calories found are 40.

Out of those 40 calories, the ones derived from fat are just 2.

For this quantity (100 g), the total fat content is only around 0.2 g and, there is no saturated fat in that.

Equally noteworthy is the point that okra is a completely cholesterol-free food.

Owing to those points, you can just go ahead and begin to consume this lovely vegetable every day! Then, things will definitely change for the better, for you!

9 Proven Health Benefits of Okra

You now must be very eager to know about the ways in which okra will be helpful to you, and this is what you are now going to read.

This segment will elaborate on the health benefits of okra, which will convince you that good health is very much within your reach. Continue reading and the fears about ill-health/ailments will soon vanish!

1.Healthy Hair with Okra

When you want to keep your hair always healthy, there are very few remedies as effective as okra. Safely rely upon the vital nutrients that are seen in this excellent vegetable and, you will be happy with the eventual outcome.

Things you need:

Okras- 3

Water- 1 glass

Lemon juice- 1 tsp

Things you need to do:

Take 3 okras and cut them horizontally.

Add these okra slices in 1 glass of water.

Boil the water until the slices become slippery.

Allow the water to cool down a little.

Then put 1 tsp of lemon juice in the water.

Now wash the hair with it.

Repeat that daily and maintain the health of your hair.

2.Okra Helps in Proper Diabetes Management

If you are looking for natural ways to manage diabetes, then you should not ignore okras. The fiber content in the vegetable, along with the minerals and vitamins, will do the job for you. Start to try the excellent food today and you will not be disappointed!

Things you need:

Okras- 4

Water- 1 glass

Things you need to do:

Take 4 okras and cut them into small pieces.

Put these pieces in a glass of water.

Allow them to soak overnight.

Directly consume this water the next morning.

Follow that daily and your diabetes will be under control.

3.Okra Keeps the Digestive System Healthy

The dietary fiber that you get in okra essays the crucial role of safeguarding the health of your digestive system. In other words, the vegetable assists in prevention/treatment of conditions such as constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome, etc. Want to know as to how to achieve this? Just read on.

Things you need:

Okra slices- ½ cup

Water- 1 glass

Things you need to do:

Take ½ cup of okra slices and 1 glass of water.

Add the slices in this water.

Slightly boil this water for few minutes.

Let the water cool down a bit.

Now take out the slices from the water.

Directly consume them.

Repeat that daily and your digestive system will always be healthy.

4.Grilled Okra- A Wonderful Recipe for Your Good Health

You will now read about a wonderful recipe, grilled okra, which when consumed regularly will contribute to your health in no uncertain terms.

Things you need:

Okra- 1

Grapeseed oil- 1 tsp

Olive oil- 1 tsp

Lemon juice- 1 tsp

Salt- 1 tsp

Things you need:

Set the grill on high heat.

Take 1okra and cut its ends.

Then take 1 tsp each of grapeseed oil and olive oil.

Mix them together well.

Toss the okra in this oil mixture.

Now put the okra on the grill and enclose it using a lid.

Remove the lid once you notice marks of the grill on the lady’s finger

Grill even the other side of the okra.

Put 1 tsp of salt and 1 tsp of lemon juice on the lady’s finger and consume it.

You can take one more vegetable (okra) and follow these steps.

5.Okra Juice as a Skin Moisturizer

Are you reluctant to use a skin moisturizer sold in the market? Do you want a natural substance to moisturize your skin? If yes, then okra juice is the solution for you!

The high amount of vitamins in Lady’s finger, especially the vitamin C, will assist you to keep the skin moisturized. Try it immediately!

Things you need:

Okra sliced- 1 cup

Things you need to do:

Take 1 cup of okra slices.

Process them in your juicer to extract the juice.

Directly apply the juice on your skin.

Wait for about half-hour.

Now rinse your skin with cold water.

Repeat that every day to keep your skin moisturized.

You can also use this remedy to treat itchiness of the skin.

6.A Cure for Sore Throat- Okra Juice

Your search for a natural remedy to cure a sore throat will end the moment you get okra! Even here, it is the juice of the vegetable that is the remedy. Depend on upon the key elements seen in Lady’s finger and, you will not be let down.

Things you need:

Okra juice- 1 glass

Things you need to do:

Take 1 glass of okra juice.

Directly drink the juice in the morning.

Have one more glass of the juice in the evening.

Use the remedy daily until you experience total relief.

7.One More Health-Promoting Okra Recipe

Here, there is another okra recipe for you where the dish also includes many other healthy vegetables. Read on for more details.

Things you need:

Okra slices- 2 cups

Carrots- 4

Squash- 1

Zucchini- 1

Sweet potato- 1

Sea salt- 1 tsp

Sesame oil- 2 tbsp

Honey- 1 tsp

Cinnamon- ½ tsp

Pepper- 1 tsp

Things you need to do:

Heat your microwave up to 420 degrees F.

Take 2 cups of okra slices.

Now take 4 carrots, 1 squash, 1 zucchini and 1 sweet potato.

Cut these vegetables into small pieces.

Put 2 tbsp of sesame oil on a big baking sheet.

Keep the okra slices and all other vegetable pieces on this sheet.

Then add 1 tsp of honey and ½ tsp of cinnamon on the vegetable slices.

Make sure that they spread uniformly on all these slices.

Add 1 tsp of sea salt and 1 tsp pepper on the vegetable pieces.

Bake the vegetable blend for about 40 minutes.

Take out this blend from the microwave and flip the vegetable slices.

Again bake them for another 40 minutes until they become a little crisp.

The healthy recipe is now ready to be consumed.

8.Okra- A Trusted Cure for Leukorrhea

Leukorrhea is a condition where the woman has a yellowish/whitish discharge even after the periods. Here, there is no need to visit the gynecologist, as the humble okra will come to the rescue, thanks to the nutrients there in the vegetable.

Things you need:

Okra pieces- 1 cup

Water- 1 glass

Things you need to do:

Take 1 cup of okra slices and 1 glass of water.

Put the okra pieces in the water.

Boil this water for around 20 minutes.

The level of the water must decline by about 50 percent.

Split the preparation into 3 equal portions.

Drink 1 portion each in the morning, afternoon and evening.

Follow that daily until you get relief.

9.No More Acne with Lady’s Finger

When it is the question of removing acne, just forget about the products that you get in the stores. What is the necessity to go for those products that come with possible side reactions, when the most reliable remedy is just next to you?

Yes! The vitamin-rich Lady’s finger is among the most effective ways to solve the problem naturally. The okra will work wonders for you!

Things you need:

Lady’s finger slices- 2 cups

Water- 2 glasses

Jojoba oil- 1 tsp

Things you need to do:

Take 2 cups of Lady’s finger slices and 2 glasses of water.

Put these slices in the water.

Boil the water for around 15 minutes.

Allow the water to cool down a little.

Then take out the Lady’s finger slices and mash them into a paste.

Add 1 tsp of jojoba oil to the paste.

Mix thoroughly.

Now spread this paste on your face.

Wait for 20 minutes.

Then wash your face with cold water.

Repeat the process at least 3 times per week.

Acne will soon become a thing of the past.

More Health Benefits of Okra

The beneficial effects of the Lady’s finger have not concluded with the previous segment of the article. The following are few more health benefits of okra.

The folate content in the vegetable is very crucial for pregnant women. This is because; folate takes care of the health of both the fetus and also the mother-to-be. Also, it significantly minimizes the risk of miscarriages.

You find plenty of vitamin K in okra and, this element makes your bones stronger and reduces your susceptibility to conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis.

The anti-inflammatory property of the Lady’s finger, along with the vitamins in it, reduces the severity of symptoms of asthma.

When you want to beat the heat of summer, make it a point to add okra in your everyday diet. You become less prone to heat exhaustion and sunstrokes once you begin to have this vegetable daily.

The dietary fiber of the food cleanses your digestive system and substantially brings about a drop in the risk of developing colon cancer.

Count upon the fiber in okra to help you in losing the excess body weight. The fiber enhances your satiety and thus prevents you from overeating and unhealthy snacking.

If you are serious about reducing the quantity of bad cholesterol in your body, then the Lady’s finger is a vegetable you must not miss. The vegetable contains pectin, a soluble fiber, which lowers the level of this cholesterol.

Lady’s finger is one of the best foods when you want to eliminate the free radicals and detoxify your body. The strong antioxidants you get in the vegetable are the important elements, in this regard.

The mucilage substance of okra assists you in prevention/treatment of gastric ulcers.

Daily intake of Lady’s finger is a definite way to strengthen the immunity power of your body.

Okra- Tips for Selection and Storage

As is the case with any health food, even okra can be of actual help to you only when you follow some key tips on selection and storage. These are some of those relevant tips.

While buying, always go for the okras that are strikingly green.

Stay away from over-ripened vegetables that are discolored.

Equally important is the point that you must not take the one with bruise and cuts on them.

Soon after you get the Lady’s fingers home, try to consume them without too much delay.

You can store them in your fridge for around 2 days.

So, those are the health benefits of okra. Do not delay anymore in including this super food in your regular diet! Once you do that, you will gradually notice the positive difference in your health. Please do drop in a few words about how this article has helped you.

Hey all, I am Suzanne, I love collecting new information on natural cure for health ailments. I always feel that nature has remedies for all our health problems, we just have to use it in the right way. I am DIY pursuer and thus keep trying natural things to get rid of nasty diseases. You will be amazed to know about the treasure mother earth has and how it can help us improve our health. Join me in a journey which take you closer to nature and keep you healthy.